It appears by pressing, and on the run, that the overall midsole is slightly firmer and denser than the very lively Sonic 3 Balance road shoe which also has Optivibe. As a result, the underfoot feel is highly protective if a bit dull in response compared to the Sonic 3 road shoe with the forefoot protection and feel reminding and approaching that of the S/Lab Ultra if a bit thinner.”

Salomon Sense Ride 4 Shoe Review | Running Warehouse Salomon Sense Ride 4 Shoe Review | Running Warehouse

The Sense Ride 4 immediately delivers a responsive ride with the right amount of cushioning and Optivibe™ foam, without feeling too spongy or too bare. This cushioning is essential for speedy runs as you don't want to feel awkward on your feet. The Optivibe Foam also allows the shoe to absorb vibrations and decrease muscle fatigue without your feet having to take the impact while staying lightweight.The shoe feels nimble under foot thanks to its narrower platform, so the weight is not noticed. It’s also lost about 20g from the previous model so Salomon is going in the right direction. I’d love to see the next version a touch lighter though. Salomon Sense Ride 4 lasts a long time! The heel counter has been slightly redesigned, with a visually more narrow and slightly higher profile and with thinner padding around the collar. In creating the Salomon Sense Ride 4, the company made a number of almost imperceptible tweaks to make this latest version much more versatile and closer to an all-around shoe, but still happiest in the mountains. The men’s advertised shoe weight is 10.2 ounces, while the women’s is 8.3 ounces.

Salomon Sense 4 Pro Review | Running Shoes Guru Salomon Sense 4 Pro Review | Running Shoes Guru

After getting accustomed to the narrower fit of this shoe, it felt snug and stabilizing and inspired confidence by keeping my foot in place. Without sacrificing durability, Salomon moved to single-layer mesh in the Sense Ride 4 and the difference in flexibility and overall comfort is immediately noticeable. The upper moves better with the foot, breathes better in hot weather, and drains more efficiently when wet. Salomon Sense Ride 3 ( RTR Review ): The SR4 is lighter and has a more refined and breathable upper. It is worth the upgrade if your SR3 has worn out. Midsole: The Midsole in the Sense Rides is called Optivibe. Optivibe is a combination of two types of foam - one to dampen and one to propel. This was developed to reduce vibration upon foot strike aimed to decrease muscle fatigue without affecting the overall feel of the shoe.

Salomon Men's Sense Ride

Heel hold and stability are top notch. Side by side with the SR3, performance and hold feel equally good. Jeff runs mostly on very steep technical terrain above Boulder often challenging well known local FKT's. At 10.5 (297g) ounces the Sense Ride 4 is not really a lightweight shoe, but it’s not overly heavy either.

Salomon Sense Ride 4 Review – iRunFar Salomon Sense Ride 4 Review – iRunFar

New models always bring about a risk of alienating your old customers by changing too much. However, Salomon has the balance just right with the SR4. Lightweight, versatile, and incredibly cushioned, the Sense Ride 4 is perfect for trails of any lengths and difficulty. One shoe to rule them all, claims one happy reviewer. I agree; why buy multiple trail runners when you can buy one that does it all. So look no further for the perfect all-rounder. The Sense Ride 4 (SR4), upgraded from the Sense Ride 3 (SR3), is entirely beginner trail-runner friendly. The Contagrip rubber outsole is unchanged from the previous version and it is one of the highest performing, durable and versatile outsoles on the market. EndoFit: This is an internal fit sleeve designed to hug the foot in exactly the right places and provide a precise fit. Out of the box, I loved the colorway on this shoe but was concerned about getting the bright white outsole dirty on both the mud and dust that I encounter on a typical Colorado trail run.Cushioning is excellent if a bit on the firm side, but the Optivibe does a great job dampening impact. With a firm midsole, the ride is very steady and predictable, inspiring confidence in just about any terrain. I also appreciate that the Sense Ride 4 is very stable, secure and protective, yet with just enough ground feel. As with the SR3, the SR4 is not speedy as say the S/Lab Sense or the new Pulsar (I have not tested but our review is here ) or Sense Pro 4 ( RTR review ), I find that my comfort and confidence level in this shoe contribute to a very efficient stride, especially on longer runs with my legs feeling less fatigued over time.

Salomon Sense Ride 4 Review (2023) | RunRepeat Cut in half: Salomon Sense Ride 4 Review (2023) | RunRepeat

So why didn’t this moderately weighted, 8-millimeter drop trail shoe with great durability dominate the market? As someone who has run in every iteration of this shoe, I have my druthers, and the bottom line as to why previous iterations of the Sense Ride didn’t receive more acclaim is frankly the ride of the shoe itself. The materials used in the Sense Ride 4 are some of the things that make it so great. I'm also pleased to find that the SR4 has kept the comfort of the Optivibe EVA foam. The Salomon Sense Ride 4’s are everything you want in a trail shoe – they are incredibly stable, lightweight, breathable and work well on all different types of terrain. Perfect for summer trail runs or hikes in the mountains.However, you're never going to get the same level of protection required from a trail runner as you would a heavy-duty hiking shoe. Although they are often heavier and less agile, if you only need a hiking shoe, good options for you could be Nike Air Zoom Wildhorse 6 or Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3. But beware, there is a marginal increase in price with the Nike hiker, and the Salomon shoe is over double the price. Outsole: The Sense Rides feature a Contagrip MA Midsole. This is built for the widest variety of surfaces. It balances both the geometry and the rubber compound to deliver confidence on wet, dry, hard or loose surfaces, and offer long-term durability. This is a small thing, but I also like that in the fully loosened position, the shoe still fits well enough to wear around, and there’s no lace ends dragging on the ground. I found myself just loosening these after a run and lounging in them a bit rather than feeling the need to immediately take them off post-effort. Sense Ride 4 doesn’t weigh you down